| Once your dog has been diagnosed with diabetes, | | | | Commercial dog food companies create their special |
| your vet will make some changes right away to your | | | | diabetic dietary mixes based on scientific research |
| dog's care. One of the first changes will be to what | | | | that determines the best ratios of various nutrients |
| you dog eats. In all probability, your vet will | | | | that a diabetic dog needs. When doing this, some |
| recommend a brand of food made just for dogs with | | | | nutrients are reduced and some are elevated in |
| diabetes...with a catch. Either your vet will sell it to | | | | amounts that are outside the typical levels that are |
| you him or herself, or, more likely, give you a | | | | good for normal dogs. Put another way--foods that |
| prescription for the dog food. But what is this with | | | | are made especially to control irregular blood sugar in |
| needing a prescription just to buy diabetic dog food. | | | | diabetic dogs are are not appropriate for normal |
| Because your dog is having difficulty managing their | | | | dogs. |
| blood sugar, modifying the mix of nutrients your dog | | | | Therefore, food products specifically for diabetic |
| eats will go a long way to helping your dog's body to | | | | dogs typically are available for purchase ONLY on the |
| balance out this sugar level. Specially-formulated meals | | | | order of a licensed veterinarian. |
| will accomplish just that. A prescription or therapeutic | | | | Therefore, prior to feeding any dog a diet specifically |
| diet is one prescribed by a veterinarian to adjust a | | | | formulated to modify body chemistry--in this case |
| medical condition. | | | | blood sugar levels--a veterinarian must make an |
| Commercial diabetic dog foods are formulated to | | | | appropriate medical diagnosis. After that they then |
| target the unique metabolic processes of a dog with | | | | can write a prescription for special food. Think of |
| diabetes. The mixture and ratio of nutrients (proteins, | | | | therapeutic diets as you would a drug (even though |
| starch, fiber, vitamins, etc.) in these specially | | | | there are not actually drugs in them!). This food has a |
| formulated meals are different than general brands of | | | | special mix designed to produce a specific reaction |
| dog food. This special mix should help the bodily | | | | (like a drug). And only dogs that have been |
| functions of a pooch with diabetes adjust to stable | | | | diagnosed with diabetes should be eating diabetic dog |
| levels, functions like blood glucose levels, digestion, | | | | foods. |
| immune system responses and kidney functions. | | | | |